District court approves compromise that will allow for public access to the beach and surrounding nature spots.

A compromise was approved by a district court last Thursday between Adam Teva
V’Din – Israel Union for Environmental Defense and vacation village developers,
that will allow for guaranteed public access to the beaches and infrastructure
developed at a Kinneret beach on the Golan Heights, both sides confirmed on
Tuesday.

Along with local residents, Adam Teva V’Din had filed a petition
arguing that the Kursi resort project should not be allowed to go forward
without public access to the beach and open areas.

The parties eventually
reached a compromise, allowing for the continued construction of the village,
but with an officially mandated agreement that will allow for public access to
the beach and surrounding nature spots. In addition, the developers will be
responsible for building a public parking lot and a promenade that connects with
the existing path that surrounds Lake Kinneret, according to Adam Teva
V’Din.

“The agreement and ruling that were issued following the petition
are important achievements that will ensure the public’s access to the beach and
open areas, for the benefit of the widespread public,” Adam Teva V’Din executive
director Amit Bracha said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the court could not
correct the big mistake that the Israel Lands Authority made when it marketed
the land for building a vacation village. We call upon the CEO of the ILA, who
demonstrated his sensitivity in protecting beaches in Israel, to immediately
cancel the building of unnecessary vacation villages on Kinneret beaches that
would be regretted for generations.”

Bracha was referring specifically to
a recent decent by ILA CEO Benzi Lieberman to nix plans to construct a similar
resort on Betzet Beach on the Mediterranean.

Kursi is one of the most
special beaches on the Kinneret, according to Adam Teva V’Din, because it is
located at the delta of a stream and contains various types of mammals, birds
and vegetation, while also remaining quite popular for kite-surfing.

Eyal
T. Sharon, an attorney from Agmon & Co., representing the developers, Hotel
Orchid, said that the project will bring important economic leverage to an
unemployment- stricken region, as well as create a tourist attraction, according
to a statement from the law firm.

“The compromise agreement reached will
allow for the development of a tourism project that will improve the quality and
quantity of infrastructure in the region, will improve the public’s access to
natural sites and will increase the rate of employment, the standard of living
and the supply of centers of tourism, recreation, leisure and more,” Sharon
said.

Sites Of Interest

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